Steerable toboggan



March 3,1970 H. c. PYFEIFER 3,498,627

STEERABLE 'IOBOGGAN I Filed Nov. 20. 19167 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTOR.HALLIE C. PFEIFER March 3, 1970 H. CQPFEIFER 3,

STEERABLE woiaoeem I I Filed Nov. 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet '2' FIG. 5.mvsmon. I

HALLIE c. PFEIFER United States Patent -O US. Cl. 280-22 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My invention encompasses a unique arrangementof vanes attached to a new toboggan shape with the necessary controlapparatus for over-snow tobogganing.

The vanes are attached to the toboggan in a controllabe fashion for twopurposes; one for steering and the second is for braking. Thus the sportof tobogganing is broadened by providing a more controlled directionallatitude.

Drawings have been prepared in conjunction with this description uponwhich will be numbers referring to the various components and devices;liberal reference is made to these numbers throughout this description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the toboggan.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIG. 1, in the direction of thearrows.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 1 in the direction of thearrows.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the toboggan showing the :steering vanes in aturning position.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the toboggan showing the steering vanes in aspread position for braking.

As shown in the drawings, my improved steerable toboggan consists of amolded fiberglass, or similar material, toboggan shell 1 which attachedthereto is the'steering and braking mechanism. The shell is formed witha curved prow, and a width greater in the front than in the rear tofacilitate lateral motion of the rear of the shell during steering forimproved maneuverability. The steering mechanism consists of the controlstick 2, which moves to either side for steering or to the rear forbraking. The control stick is attached to the pivot shaft 3 -by a singlepinned hinge 4 and rotates in the bearings 5 which are an integral partof the toboggan 1. The generally vertical control stick 2 is pivotallymounted on the pivot shaft 3 for forward and backward motion while thegenerally horizontal pivot shaft 3 is rotatably mounted in the directionof the longitudinal axis of the toboggan to also permit motion from sideto side by the control shaft 2. Attached to the pivot shaft 3 is theswing arm 6. Attached to the swing arm 6 is a backing plate 6a formounting thereto two pulleys 9 so that the two control cables 7 may movefreely. The steering and braking is accomplished through the two controlcables 7 fastened 7a to the control stick 2 and are guided over thepivot shaft 3 by two pulleys 8 thence guided over the swing arm 6 by twopulleys 9 thence guided around inside perimeter of toboggan 1 by twoforward pulleys 10 and two rear pulleys 11 and attached 12 to theflexible steel guide vanes 13. The guide vanes 13 are securely fastened14 to the toboggan 1 to prevent any movement at their forward end. Asshown in the drawings the vanes 13 are set apart and parallel to providesmooth passage through snow, and are formed by flat blades orientedperpendicular to the base of the toboggan shell. In order to maintainthe parallel alignment of the vanes 13 a spring 15, to preventspreading, with a separator dowel 16 within the spring is provided atthe rear of the vanes 13.

v 3,498,627 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 FIGURE 4 illustrates the vanes 13 in aturning position. The turning position is achieved simply by moving thecontrol stick 2 to one side 'or the other. The movement of the controlstick 2 is translated through the rotation ofthe pivot shaft 3 and theswing arm 6 to the control cables 7. One control cable 7 is in tensionpulling on the vanes 13 as the other control cable 7 is slack. Thespring 15 tension holding the vanes 13 against the separator dowel 16keeps the vanes parallel in the turning arc position.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the vanes 13 having been spread apart in positionfor slowing or stopping forward movement. This position is simplyachieved by pulling back on the control stick 2. The rearward movementof the control stick 2 is translated through both the control cables 7and against the spring 15 causing the vanes 13 to be pulled apart.

What is claimed is:

1. A toboggan comprising:

a shell having a generally flat base suitable for sliding over asurface, said shell formed with a curved prow in the front and a widthgreater in the front than in the rear of said shell;

a pair of elongated guide vanes positioned along the bottom of the baseof said shell, each vane rigidly fixed near the front of the shell andfree at the rear of the shell for bending laterally along its length;

means at the rear of the shell resiliently spacing said guide vanesgenerally in parallel alignment;

and means for bending said guide vanes back and forth in generalparallel alignment for steering right and left and for bending saidguide vanes in opposite directions outwardly for braking, said means forbending said guide vanes comprises a pair of cables connectedrespectively at the rear of said shell to said guide vanes, guide meansleading said cables outwardly and along the shell to the front thereof,a generally vertical control shaft at the front of the shell to whichsaid cables are connected, said control shaft pivotally mounted formotion forward and backward for bending said guide vanes outwardly inopposite directions for braking, and a generally horizontal rotatablymounted pivot shaftpositioned at the front of the shell in the directionof the longitudinal axis of said shell on which the control shaft ismounted whereby said control shaft can also be moved from side to sidefor bending said guide vanes in general parallel alignment back andforth for steering.

2. A toboggan as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide vanes compriseflat blades oriented perpendicular to the flat base of the shell.

3. A toboggan comprising:

a shell having a generally flat base suitable for sliding over asurface, said shell formed with a curved prow in the front and a widthgreater in the front than in the rear of said shell;

a pair of elongated guide vanes positioned along the bottom of the baseof said shell, each vane rigidly fixed near the front of the shell andfree at the rear of the shell for bending laterally along its length;

means at the rear of the shell resiliently spacing said guide vanesgenerally in parallel alignment;

and means for bending said guide vanes comprising a pair of cablesconnected respectively at the rear of said shell to said guide vanes,guide means leading said cables outwardly and along the shell to thefront thereof, a generally vertical control shaft at the front of theshell to which said cables are connected, said control shaft pivotallymounted for motion forward and backward for bending said guide n3 a: l'j vanes outwardly'in opposite directions for braking, References Citedand a generally horizontal rotatably mounted pivot- I shaft positionedat the front of the shell in the direc- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion ofthe longitudinal axis of said shell and on 2,027,128 1/1936 Tessmer28022 which the control shaft 'is mounted whereby said 5 2 137 437 1 1Wawat 280 18 control shaft can also be moved from side to side 2766 99210/1956 Rohe for bending said guide vanes in vgeneral parallelalignment-back and forth for steering.- LEO FR E 4. A to boggan assetvforth innclaim 3 wherein said IAG Pnmary Xammer guide vanes compriseflat blades orientedperpendicular to 6 J. E. SIEGEL, Assistant Examinerthe flatbaseof the shell. A

